A method for controlling an automatically operated lathe provided with at least one spindle and at least one tool rest includes the following steps. First, each of a plurality of transfer position data required in a sequence of machining programs in connection with at least one spindle and at least one tool rest is provided in a form of either one of two types of transfer position data, one of which is cam-reference data directing a transfer position as a function of a cam rotation quantity and the other is time-reference data directing a transfer position as a function of an elapsed time. Next, a time-series allocation of the cam-reference data and the time-reference data is designated in the sequence of machining programs. Then, the cam-reference data and the time-reference data are processed in accordance with the time-series allocation, so as to control a relative feed motion between at least one spindle and at least one tool rest in the sequence of machining programs.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method for controlling an automatically operated lathe provided with at least one spindle and at least one tool rest, comprising: providing each of a plurality of transfer position data required in a sequence of machining programs in connection with said at least one spindle and said at least one tool rest in a form of either one of two types of transfer position data, one of which is a cam-reference data directing a transfer position as a function of a cam rotation quantity and the other is a time-reference data directing a transfer position as a function of an elapsed time; and processing each of said plurality of transfer position data provided in the form of either one of said cam-reference data and said time-reference data, to control a relative feed motion between said at least one spindle and said at least one tool rest in said sequence of machining programs.
2. A method for controlling, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said at least one spindle and said at least one tool rest are capable of performing a relative feed motion along a plurality of control axes, and wherein the step of providing said transfer position data includes providing each of said plurality of transfer position data in the form of either one of said cam-reference data and said time-reference data in relation to each of said plurality of control axes.
3. A method for controlling, as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a step of designating a time-series allocation of said plurality of transfer position data in said sequence of machining programs, wherein the step of processing said transfer position data includes processing, in accordance with said time-series allocation as designated, each of said plurality of transfer position data provided in the form of either one of said cam-reference data and said time-reference data.
4. A method for controlling, as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a step of showing, in a form of a displacement diagram, each of said plurality of transfer position data provided in the form of either one of said cam-reference data and said time-reference data.
5. A method for controlling, as set forth in claim 4 , further comprising a step of designating a time-series allocation of said plurality of transfer position data in said sequence of machining programs on said displacement diagram, wherein the step of processing said transfer position data includes processing, in accordance with said time-series allocation as designated on said displacement diagram, each of said plurality of transfer position data provided in the form of either one of said cam-reference data and said time-reference data.
6. A method for controlling, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the step of processing said transfer position data includes processing, as a function of a pulse number corresponding to said cam rotation quantity, said transfer position directed by said cam-reference data.
7. A method for controlling, as set forth in claim 6 , further comprising a step of providing a pulse-train generating source for generating any pulse train, wherein the step of processing said transfer position data includes processing said cam-reference data by using a pulse train generated through said pulse-train generating source.
8. A method for controlling, as set forth in claim 7 , wherein said pulse-train generating source generates a pulse train corresponding to a rotation of said at least one spindle.
9. An automatically operated lathe, comprising: a lathe bed; at least one spindle mounted on said lathe bed; at least one tool rest mounted on said lathe bed; a control device for controlling an operation of said at least one spindle and said at least one tool rest on said lathe bed; said control device including: an input section permitting an entering of each of a plurality of transfer position data required in a sequence of machining programs in connection with said at least one spindle and said at least one tool rest in a form of either one of two types of transfer position data, one of which is a cam-reference data directing a transfer position as a function of a cam rotation quantity and the other is a time-reference data directing a transfer position as a function of an elapsed time; and a processing section processing each of said plurality of transfer position data entered through said input section in the form of either one of said cam-reference data and said time-reference data, to thereby generate a control signal for controlling a relative feed motion between said at least one spindle and said at least one tool rest in said sequence of machining programs.
10. An automatically operated lathe as set forth in claim 9 , wherein said at least one spindle and said at least one tool rest are capable of performing a relative feed motion along a plurality of control axes on said lathe bed, and wherein said input section of said control device permits an entering of each of said plurality of transfer position data in the form of either one of said cam-reference data and said time-reference data in relation to each of said plurality of control axes.
11. An automatically operated lathe as set forth in claim 9 , wherein said input section of said control device permits an designation of a time-series allocation of said plurality of transfer position data in said sequence of machining programs, and wherein said processing section of said control device processes, in accordance with said time-series allocation designated through said input section, each of said plurality of transfer position data entered in the form of either one of said cam-reference data and said time-reference data through said input section.
12. An automatically operated lathe as set forth in claim 9 , wherein said control device further includes a display section displaying, in a form of a displacement diagram, each of said plurality of transfer position data entered through said input section in the form of either one of said cam-reference data and said time-reference data.
13. An automatically operated lathe as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said input section of said control device permits a designation of a time-series allocation of said plurality of transfer position data in said sequence of machining programs on said displacement diagram displayed in said display section, and wherein said processing section of said control device processes, in accordance with said time-series allocation as designated on said displacement diagram, each of said plurality of transfer position data entered in the form of either one of said cam-reference data and said time-reference data through said input section.
14. An automatically operated lathe as set forth in claim 9 , wherein said processing section of said control device processes, as a function of a pulse number corresponding to said cam rotation quantity, said transfer position directed by said cam-reference data entered through said input section.
15. An automatically operated lathe as set forth in claim 14 , further comprising a pulse-train generating source for generating any pulse train, wherein said processing section of said control device processes said cam-reference data by using a pulse train generated through said pulse-train generating source.
16. An automatically operated lathe as set forth in claim 15 , wherein said pulse-train generating source generates a pulse train corresponding to a rotation of said at least one spindle.
17. A control device for use in an automatically operated lathe provided with at least one spindle and at least one tool rest, comprising: an input section permitting an entering of each of a plurality of transfer position data required in a sequence of machining programs in connection with said at least one spindle and said at least one tool rest in a form of either one of two types of transfer position data, one of which is a cam-reference data directing a transfer position as a function of a cam rotation quantity and the other is a time-reference data directing a transfer position as a function of an elapsed time; and a processing section processing each of said plurality of transfer position data entered through said input section in the form of either one of said cam-reference data and said time-reference data, to thereby generate a control signal for controlling a relative feed motion between said at least one spindle and said at least one tool rest in said sequence of machining programs.
18. A control device as set forth in claim 17 , wherein said input section permits an designation of a time-series allocation of said plurality of transfer position data in said sequence of machining programs, and wherein said processing section processes, in accordance with said time-series allocation designated through said input section, each of said plurality of transfer position data entered in the form of either one of said cam-reference data and said time-reference data through said input section.
19. A control device as set forth in claim 17 , further comprising a display section displaying, in a form of a displacement diagram, each of said plurality of transfer position data entered through said input section in the form of either one of said cam-reference data and said time-reference data.
20. A control device as set forth in claim 19 , wherein said input section permits a designation of a time-series allocation of said plurality of transfer position data in said sequence of machining programs on said displacement diagram displayed in said display section, and wherein said processing section processes, in accordance with said time-series allocation as designated on said displacement diagram, each of said plurality of transfer position data entered in the form of either one of said cam-reference data and said time-reference data through said input section.
21. A control device as set forth in claim 17 , wherein said processing section processes, as a function of a pulse number corresponding to said cam rotation quantity, said transfer position directed by said cam-reference data entered through said input section.
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July 25, 2003
November 9, 2004
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